Saturday, April 30, 2011

when we first arrived in boston last week, we drove past an outdoor bookshop set up in an alleyway. we didn't have time to inspect it since we were checking out a nearby college and our time was limited. we promised ian we would go back the next day. little did I know we would find they also had an indoor bookshop right next door by the name of brattle. what caught my eye was the window display of vintage postcards and a lovely handmade banner you can see in the above photo. I immediately thought of christine from over at 'the daily postcard', I knew she would like this. I love seeing the different antique postcards christine posts, but the thing I love most about her site is that she always posts the back of each card where sometimes there is a handwritten note on the back. christine describes it best in her profile where she writes, " I love antique postcards because they preserve evidence of everyday life as well as celebrations and sad events. Looking at an old postcard is like holding a single piece of a puzzle; we have to imagine the rest."below is a photo of the outdoor brattle bookshop and then another photo of who I think might be george washington (just past the woman's head with the dreads) perusing the used books.if you'd like to see more reflections or add your own to the mix, please check out james of newtown area photo's wonderful 'weekend reflections' meme. thanks James!

Friday, April 29, 2011

the last time I photographed boston's public garden was three years ago and it was a sunny day. with the exception of today, long island's weather has been dreary and grey most of this last week, much like what you see in this photograph I took a few days ago. Somehow the foggy weather seems to compliment the silhouette of the beautiful equestrian statue of George washington.if you'd like to gaze at more wondrous skies from all around the world or if you'd like to add your own sky, please visit the skywatch friday meme, thanks to klaus and his team, sandy, wren, and sylvia.a manhattan equestrian statue: an angel in new york

Thursday, April 28, 2011

the magnolia trees in boston are absolutely beautiful this time of year. check out the beautiful blossom below. if you drive along commonwealth avenue you will see almost every residence has a magnolia tree blooming in front of it along with a carpet of magnolia petals underneath.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

acouple of days ago when we took our son ian to see vassar college, this was the tree we found in front of the library. we all wondered just how old it must be. the library itself was pretty amazing too. below is the light fixture that hangs in it's entranceway.this post is dedicated to the 'abc wednesday' meme and today's letter is the letter O. if you'd like to see other representations of the letter O, or if you'd like to add your own O representation, please visit 'abc wednesday'.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

last saturday, garrison keillor was at the town hall in manhattan for his live performance of a prairie home companion, a variety show that airs on public radio every saturday night from 6-8pm eastern time. I've listened to this radio show on and off over the years-usually if I happen to be in the kitchen when it's on. nothing prepared me for how much fun it would be to watch this show being performed live. keillor works the stage like a master storyteller tying the assorted performances of music, song and words together with his trademark narration. I felt like I was in the presence of an american treasure and also grateful I didn't miss this experience before it was no longer around. if you ever get the chance to see phc, do it, keillor is retiring from performing in phc in 2013. this saturday, prairie home companion will be performing out of tornado ravaged st. louis.

to share a part of your world or just see more of others, please go to "that's my world tuesday". a big thanks to klaus for hosting with his team of helpers, sandy, wren, and sylvia.

Monday, April 25, 2011

the flower was so beautiful we tried to keep it in place as we sliced the cake. today is mellow yellow monday. if you feel so inclined, please visit drowsey monkey's mellow yellow monday meme to check out all things yellow. & don't forget to add your own bit of yellowness too.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

my mother made this excellent cake for easter. the cream cheese frosting was especially good with the added coconut. yumminess is probably not a word but that is the only one that comes to mind when I think of how good it tasted. my mother is an amazing cook. come back tomorrow to see this cake's aftermath.

Friday, April 22, 2011

don't let this sunny sky fool you. it was so windy yesterday there was a bitter chill in the air. winter doesn't seem to want to let go. yesterday's blue sky was still gorgeous though.if you'd like to gaze at more wondrous skies from all around the world or if you'd like to add your own sky, please visit the skywatch friday meme, thanks to klaus and his team, sandy, wren, and sylvia.other LIPD skies:sky over home depot, pink sky, northport sky, fire in the sky

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

I was here a couple of weeks ago to get my waffle fix with ian & wasn't surprised to see munday's all decked out for easter. they also had a nice passover display in their front window.I love how they decorate for every holiday.other munday holiday decorations: saint patrick's day, chanukah, thanksgiving

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

at least we are hoping it's a dog tick! soon after my husband anthony got home from work he found this bugger on priscilla's back. I can't tell you how much I am itching all over my body just writing about this! I've spent the last 2 and a half days mostly sleeping off a fever and cold which means our beloved priscilla has been sleeping right next to me during most of that time. in fact, earlier this very day she was literally sleeping on top of my pillow right next to my head! if I wasn't so fatigued I probably wouldn't be able to sleep tonight. hopefully I won't have nightmares. luckily anthony was home since I am not so sure priscilla would have stayed so still for ian & I.

first we smothered the tick with vaseline, then we read online that takes 48 hours to work. the same website said it was ok to use tweezers if we made sure we grabbed it by its head. I am fairly certain I got the pincers out along with a bit of priscilla's hair. I know I am repeating myself here but it really is a small miracle priscilla stayed calm the entire time the three of us were hovering around her holding her under our brightest kitchen light. this is the same dog that seemingly reads my mind if I so much as think about cutting her hair-she will run in the opposite direction. if she sees me holding a scissor while she is in another room she can somehow tell immediately whether I am about to wrap a present or whether I want to trim her bangs. you would have never known this when I took out the largest pair of scissors we had in the house to trim the hair around where the tick was, she stayed perfectly still. I figured this was important so I could check on the area for infection later.

and yes, as you can see, I kept the tick for identification purposes.

I just read that if you stun the tick with a bit of alcohol first, it will suddenly release from the animal but you must be ready to grab it with a tweezer quickly. hopefully we will never have to go through this again but I think it's good to know.

the scary thing is priscilla was only hanging out in our backyard...yikes!

to share a part of your world or just see more of others, please go to "that's my world tuesday". a big thanks to klaus for hosting with his team of helpers, sandy, wren, and sylvia.

Monday, April 18, 2011

last friday morning I made my annual pilgrimage to pick up a flat of pansies to plant around our home in time for easter. it has been so chilly here lately it's hard to believe these delicate flowers can survive outdoors. aren't they beautiful? today is mellow yellow monday. if you feel so inclined, please visit drowsey monkey's mellow yellow monday meme to check out all things yellow. & don't forget to add your own bit of yellowness too. view other less blurry springtime pansies: first flowers, red pansy

Saturday, April 16, 2011

it is soo damp and cold outside & grey! as I drove ian home from his violin lesson earlier today, I noticed everyone bundled up for winter weather. it seems like most people believe it doesn't really warm up until may - only fifteen more days everyone! today's reflection is the result of using my iphone hipstamatic app. it was actually somewhat sunny out when I snapped this but I couldn't resist the texture from the pavement creating a starry like sky effect.

Friday, April 15, 2011

the forsythia are everywhere now, people's backyards, along the parkways. the yellow flowers are so fleeting, I only wish they stuck around longer.if you'd like to gaze at more wondrous skies from all around the world or if you'd like to add your own sky, please visit the skywatch friday meme, thanks to klaus and his team, sandy, wren, and sylvia.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

I love that someone took the time to plant this carpet of beautiful blue flowers. if you drive by this wooded area too quickly, you just might miss it. I photographed this same muscariflower patch on a sunnier day two years ago. today's rainy atmosphere seemed to bring out the flowers brilliant color. also known as grape hyacinth, these perennial plants are a favorite of mine.this post is dedicated to the 'abc wednesday' meme and today's letter is the letter M. if you'd like to see other representations of the letter M, or if you'd like to add your own M representation, please visit 'abc wednesday'.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

I made this for ian yesterday. poor kid is under the weather with a nasty cold. I wish I had an accurate recipe for this to share since it really is tasty but I didn't measure a single thing I put into the pot and I just got lucky. of course I will share with you the ingredients and my estimated measurements if you feel like experimenting.

lily's chicken soup recipe

add into soup pot;
1 medium sized organic, of your choice, onion chopped
sautee in organic olive oil while
chopping up and adding both half a package of organic celery
& half a package of organic carrots
sprinkle salt and pepper into pot to taste
add 1 tbsp. of thyme
stir well, let cook on medium heat about 10-15 minutes to soften veggies
add a box of organic vegetable broth, add 2 cups of water, or more if you'd like, and a low sodium organic vegetable bouillon cube.
add about a pound of organic chicken cut into small pieces
stir well and let simmer for approximately 40 minutes
cook about half a package of rombi organic pasta while waiting for soup to simmer.
drain the pasta, empty into bowl with a tbsp or two of olive oil mixed into pasta, set aside covered.
when soup is done, ladle into bowl, add about1/2 a cup of pasta and ladle a little more soup over it.
serve to an ailing family member or friend with their favorite bread and unsalted butter on the side and watch them start to feel at least a little better.

to share a part of your world or just see more of others, please go to "that's my world tuesday". a big thanks to klaus for hosting with his team of helpers, sandy, wren, and sylvia.

Monday, April 11, 2011

the daffodils

in my backyard always seem to bloom later than all of the other daffodils in my neighborhood. today is mellow yellow monday. if you feel so inclined, please visit drowsey monkey's mellow yellow monday meme to check out all things yellow. & don't forget to add your own bit of yellowness too.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

a little late posting today.

I'm unaccustomed to staying up until 3:30 in the morning and unfortunately it happens sometimes when you live with a teenager. in other news, it seems like the flowers aren't blooming fast enough around here so I thought I'd repost this photograph of the star magnolia tree I took back in april of 2008.today's post is dedicated to shadow shot sunday. if you want to join in the fun, please visit hey harriet's shadow shot sunday meme. a big thank you to tracy for hosting shadow shot sunday.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

as I post this I wonder if the government may be shutdown before midnight. I guess we will all know when we wake up saturday morning. whatever the case may be, I hope it is for the best.meanwhile, please enjoy this photo taken while riding in a taxi during my last trip into manhattan. I love the painterly quality of the reflections found in this building. if you'd like to see more reflections or add your own to the mix, please check out james of newtown area photo's wonderful 'weekend reflections' meme. thanks James!

Friday, April 8, 2011

after two days of grey skies, the sun finally made an appearance around 5 pm. yay! if you'd like to gaze at more wondrous skies from all around the world or if you'd like to add your own sky, please visit the skywatch friday meme, thanks to klaus and his team, sandy, wren, and sylvia.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

it's always nice to see a thriving independent bookstore. and I was doubly surprised by the many discounted and wonderful books at the book revue in huntington. according to their website more than half of their books are discounted 20-75% off. my son ian was thrilled. dick van dyke is going to be there may 3rd to sign copies of his memoir. check out their website for other interesting author signings.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

what can I say except, it was cold and rainy and windy and I needed something to warm me up. oh yeah and...I was craving chocolate! if you'd like to see other representations of the letter L, or if you'd like to add your own L representation, please visit 'abc wednesday'.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

my post fromlast friday is actually a photograph that was taken maybe a week or so prior. I didn't think much of it until linda from occasional scotland commented that herpussy willowswere all covered in pollen already. of course I knew I had to take a look to see if mine were as well & as you can see, yes they are!

Monday, April 4, 2011

I've always liked this yellow house. unfortunately the long island railroad runs right next to the black fence you see pictured here. I wonder if the house shakes whenever the train passes.today is also mellow yellow monday. if you feel so inclined, please visit drowsey monkey's mellow yellow monday meme to check out all things yellow. & don't forget to add your own bit of yellowness too.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

it's kind of funny how a little dog can cast such a menacing shadow. if you'd like to see more shadows or if you want to join in the fun, please visit hey harriet's shadow shot sunday meme. a big thank you to tracy for hosting shadow shot sunday.

Saturday, April 2, 2011

the clouds reflected in this shop window seem to go perfectly with the whimsical display inside of it.if you'd like to see more reflections or add your own to the mix, please check out james of newtown area photo's wonderful 'weekend reflections' meme. thanks James!

Friday, April 1, 2011

the sky has been dreary the last few days in these parts so I thought it would be cheerier to post something from a day when the sky was a beautiful blue instead. I've posted this very same pussy willow shrub before here. oh, and, happy first day of april everyone, don't forget it's april fools' day!

if you'd like to gaze at more wondrous skies from all around the world or if you'd like to add your own sky, please visit the skywatch friday meme, thanks to klaus and his team, sandy, wren, and sylvia.

Priscilla at Home, sort of...

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Sunset Over Old Bethpage

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Robert Moses in Winter

A Very Particular Set of Clouds

Priscilla's Sweet Face

Bouquet of Flowers in a Vase

Vincent van Gogh 1890

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lily.hydrangea@gmail.com

Long Island Daily Photo

You have heard of LI & its many stereotypes? You wonder if they may be true but wish not to risk visiting in the event that they are. Be bold then & visit me daily & I promise I will show you many sides of Long Island that you will be both amazed & inspired by.